To apply, please complete & submit the online application form on our Volunteer Opportunities page. You will need a computer that has access to the Internet.

The application should take no more than 10 minutes.

Is the application process competitive? How many volunteer do you accept each year?

Each year, the application process becomes increasingly competitive. Unfortunately, we will not be able to offer a position to every applicant.

Here is a summary of our volunteer numbers from 2018:

Number of Applicants

450

Number of Applicants Interviewed

375

Number of Volunteers Hired

247

For 2019 we hope to hire approximately 300 volunteers.

What is the timeline that you follow?

This is the number one question we receive. The general timeline for 2019 is:

Application System Opens

January 14, 2019

Deadline to Submit Application

April 21, 2019 @ 11:50pm

Interview Invites Sent

April 23, 2019

Interviews

April 27, 10:00-11:45am

April 27, 1:00-2:45pm

April 30, 6:00-7:45pm

May 1, 6:00-7:45pm

Deadline to Submit Availability

May 12, 2019

Offers/Regrets Sent by Email

May 17, 2019

Schedule Sent by Email

June 10, 2019

Training

June 18 & 19, 2019

First Day of Camps

July 2, 2019

Are you able to extend the application deadline for me?

Due to the large volume of applications that we receive, we are unable to extend our application deadline.

Can I use SFU Camps for my service hours or my schools work experience course?

Absolutely! Many volunteers in the past have used SFU camps for work experience and/or service hours. We are more than happy to fill out any necessary paperwork. Please make sure to check with you teacher to make sure they will allow you to use SFU Camps.

Please note that SFU Camps is not a registered non-profit.

Do I need to submit a Criminal Record Check (CRC)?

Yes you do! We require all volunteers to submit a completed CRC to us. If successfully hired, we will provide you with specific instructions on how to complete a CRC.

We recommend that you complete your CRC as soon as possible after we hire you. If you have any questions, please contact us.

What do you mean when you say that you will assess my availability after my interview?

We use a 3 step process to help us fairly evaluate all applicants.

Step 1: We evaluate your online application including your answer to the long answer question(s). If you make it past this stage, we ask you to attend a group interview.

Step 2: We invite you to a group interview where we assess your professionalism, teamwork, communication, and leadership skills.

Step 3: We evaluate your availability. When we look at your availability, we are looking for whether or not you are able to commit to our minimum requirements and if your availability matches with our camps that are in session.

Group Interviews

What can I expect at the interview?

Interviews are typically held in early May. The interview will last approximately 2-hours and is group based meaning that you will be working in a pre-assigned group for the majority of the evening. You can expect that there will be approximately 75 other applicants present at you interview.

As a group you will participate in various activities that allow us to assess whether or not we feel you will a good fit for the SFU Camps Program. You will also participate in a 10 minute 1-1 interview with a member of the administrative team. Don't let this scare you. This just gives us the opportunity to get to know you. Your performance during the group activities is much more important to us.

To help us run these interviews, we will have staff for the upcoming summer assist us with the activties. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them.

Do I have to attend an in-person interview? Do you conduct Skype/phone interviews?

Yes. All applicants must attend one in-person interview on the SFU Burnaby Campus.

We do not conduct Skype/phone interviews. We only conduct in-person interviews on the SFU Burnaby Campus.

When are your interviews held?

Group interviews will be held at the following dates & times:

April 27, 2019 - 10:00-11:45am

April 27, 2019 - 1:00-2:45pm

April 30, 2019 - 6:00-7:45pm

May 1, 2019 - 6:00-7:45pm

What are you looking for during the interview?

During the interview the staff and administrative team will be looking at four qualities. There qualities are: leadership, professionalism, communication and teamwork skills.

We want to make sure that we can trust you to work closely with campers, parents, and staff. Please remember to avoid the use of inappropriate language and make sure to wear appropriate clothing!

Don't forget, your interview begins as soon as you sign in!

How can I prepare for the interview?

Here are some helpful tips to prepare for the interview:

Wear athletic clothes and shoes that are appropriate

Be prepared to work in a group

Practice some typical interview questions

Practice working in a group

If you have never been to the Burnaby Campus, look at a map ahead of time so that you are on time

Enroll in our Leadership Camp

What should I wear to the interview?

We recommend that you wear athletic clothing and shoes to your interview.

Examples include a t-shirt with shorts or track pants. We also ask that your choice of clothing be appropriate (e.g. would you wear this outfit to your first day of camp).

What are the exact activities or stations that I will experience during my interview?

We do not disclose what exact activities or questions we ask during the interview. Just come prepared to participate in group activities that will test your professionalism, communication, leadership and teamwork skills. You will also have a 1-on-1 interview with a member of the administrative team.

Can I receive feedback from my performance?

Yes you can!

All the evaluators will have a clipboard where they will mark down any notes they have about your performance. If you would like feedback about your performance, please email the Head Programmer of Volunteers at admin_camps@sfu.ca.

Due to privacy reasons, we can only disclose your performance with you, the applicant.

Can I change the date of my interview?

You were scheduled for your interview based upon the availability that you provided on your application form. If you need to request a change, please email admin_camps@sfu.ca to see if we have another available slot. Please note that requesting a change may have a negative impact on your application.

References

Can I request a reference from SFU Camps?

Absolutely! I am more than happy to provide you with any form of reference that you need. Please read below for additional information on requesting a reference.

Criteria for Receiving a Letter of Reference:

The letter must have been requested a minimum of 3 weeks in advance

Volunteer must have completed a minimum of 50 total hours of volunteer work with SFU Camps

Volunteer must be in good standing with SFU Camps

Requests must have been requested by the individual wanting the reference (e.g. requests will not be accepted by parents, teachers or friends)

What are the requirements to receive a letter of reference?

Criterias for receiving a letter of reference from SFU Camps include:

The letter must have been requested a minimum of 3 weeks in advance

Volunteer must have completed a minimum of 50 total hours of volunteer work with SFU Camps

Volunteer must be in good standing with SFU Camps

Requests must have been requested by the individual wanting the reference (ie. requests will not be accepted by parents, teachers, or friends)

How do I request for a letter of reference/letter of reccomendation?

Please send an email to admin_camps@sfu.ca with the subject line "Volunteer Reference Letter - Your Name".

In the body of the email, please provide:

Your full name

Year(s) you volunteered

Purpose of the letter (e.g. scholarship, job application, university application)

To have your activity verified, you must be in good standing with SFU Camps

You must have satisfactorily completed your full SFU Camps placement

Training

Is there volunteer training?

Yes there is. If selected, there will be a mandatory training session in June.

Training: June 18 & 19, 2019

I am no longer able to attend my scheduled training session. Can you move me to the other night?

We scheduled you for your training session based upon the availability that you provided us. If your availability has changed, please email us immediately and let us know what the situation is.

Please note that volunteer training is mandatory.

Something has come up and I am not able to attend volunteer training. Can I schedule a make-up training session?

As mentioned, in-person volunteer training on the SFU Burnaby Campus is mandatory for all volunteers. We will not be holding any additional training sessions.

A last minute emergency has come up or I am running late, what should I do?

Immediately email us at admin_camps@sfu.ca andleave us a voicemail at (778) 782-4307. We will respond to you as soon as possible.

Please note that volunteer training is mandatory.

What can I expect at volunteer training?

At volunteer training, we will provide you with the skills and tools that you will need to be successful as a volunteer with SFU Camps. Throughout the night you will move around to different stations that will go over different topics. Some topics include:

How to send a professional email

Rules and regulations

SMART goal setting

How to run a rec time

Meet & greet with camp staff

Campus tour

Question & answer session

At the start of training we will also collect your paperwork, hand out your volunteer t-shirt and provide you with some pizza.

I am a returning volunteer. Do I still need to attend a volunteer training session?

Yes. All new and returning volunteers are required to attend volunteer training.

Scheduling

How does scheduling work?

First of all, your schedule is based upon the availability that you provide us in May. If on this sheet you tell us that you are not available during a particular week then you will not be scheduled for that week.

You will be scheduled for a full week at a time. For example, if you say you are available Week 2 from 8:00am-4:00pm and there is a spot available in Clan Junior, then you would be scheduled in Clan Junior for the entire Week 2 from 8:00am-4:00pm.